2010 Toyota RAV4

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2010 Toyota RAV4 has 498 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is suspension problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2010 toyota rav4. while driving 50 mph he heard a grinding sound coming from the front of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and the hub and bearing assembly was repaired at an expense of $432.41. the failure mileage was 48985. the current mileage was 49000.. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 66 crash reports 29 injuries

498

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

SUSPENSION

102 complaints

20%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH HE HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $432.41. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48985. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49000.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH HE HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $432.41. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48985. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49000.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL AND TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH HE HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $432.41. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48985. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49000.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

83 complaints

17%

• TL* WHILE TEST DRIVING A 2010 TOYOTA RAV 4, IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING AT A RAPID PACE. HE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, IN WHICH HE NOTIFIED THE SALES MANAGER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNK
• CAR SEEMS TO LAG WHEN I STEP ON GAS PEDAL FROM A STOP POSITION (WHEN I'M STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT). IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW AND ONLY WHEN I'M TRYING TO TURN LEFT. VEHICLE DOESN'T JUMP, BUT THERE IS A LAG AND THE CAR DOESN'T GO, EVEN WHEN I'M PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL. DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AS IF HE WAS APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE PEDAL. HE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND THAT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THE DRIVER TURNED THE VEH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 26 crashes

“TL* WHILE TEST DRIVING A 2010 TOYOTA RAV 4, IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING AT A RAPID PACE. HE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, IN WHICH HE NOTIFIED THE SALES MANAGER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

40 complaints

• I HAVE A VIBRATION WHEN GOING BETWEEN 62-70MPH. HAVE NO IDEA FROM WHAT HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, THEY BALANCED THE TIRES, WE HAD A PRIVATE TIRE DEALER CHECK THE BALANCE, STILL THERE. THE OWNER OF OUR DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID SHE TEST DROVE TWO OTHER ONES, SAME MODEL AS OURS AND THEY DO IT TO
• I HAVE A VIBRATION WHEN GOING BETWEEN 62-70MPH. HAVE NO IDEA FROM WHAT HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, THEY BALANCED THE TIRES, WE HAD A PRIVATE TIRE DEALER CHECK THE BALANCE, STILL THERE. THE OWNER OF OUR DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID SHE TEST DROVE TWO OTHER ONES, SAME MODEL AS OURS AND THEY DO IT TO
• 2010 TOYOTA RAV4 GAS PEDAL RECALL*CW THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW IF THE CTS PEDALS ARE THE ONLY PEDALS INVOLVED IN THE RECALL, OR ARE THERE OTHERS SUCH AS THE DENSO PEDALS? UPDATED 03/05/10

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 4 crashes

“I HAVE A VIBRATION WHEN GOING BETWEEN 62-70MPH. HAVE NO IDEA FROM WHAT HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, THEY BALANCED THE TIRES, WE HAD A PRIVATE TIRE DEALER CHECK THE BALANCE, STILL THERE. THE OWNER OF OUR DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID SHE TEST DROVE TWO OTHER ONES, SAME MODEL AS OURS AND THEY DO IT TO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

38 complaints

• 2010 RAV4 LIMITED DELIVERED 10/26/09. CONSTANT TRANSMISSION WHINE AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH TO 45MPH. THIS WHINE APPEARED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS IN ALL RAV4'S. WROTE LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA USA ON 12/17/09 AND HAVE RECEIVED N
• I BOUGHT A 2010 RAV 4 2W DRIVE 4 CYL AUTOMATIC FROM NWA TOYOTA ON DEC18 2009. IMMEDIATELY DISCOVERED THAT WHEN STARTING OFF FROM A STOP(BRAKE ON) AND GOING TO THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE IS IN A FREEWHEEL MOOD. EVEN ON JUST A MODEST INCLINE DIVE WAYS, EXITS ONTO STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, OR ANYWHERE EXC
• COMPUTER FAILURE ON MY 2002 TOYOTA RAV4. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“2010 RAV4 LIMITED DELIVERED 10/26/09. CONSTANT TRANSMISSION WHINE AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH TO 45MPH. THIS WHINE APPEARED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS IN ALL RAV4'S. WROTE LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA USA ON 12/17/09 AND HAVE RECEIVED N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

34 complaints

• JUST ANOTHER UNSATISFIED, UNHAPPY, AND SCARED FOR MY LIFE TOYOTA OWNER! THE REPAIR FOR THE RECALL FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT TAKES TOO MUCH EFFORT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE ACCELERATOR STICKS SOMETIMES. BRAKING IS BECOMING A MAJOR ISSUE FOR ME-I'VE NEVER HAD TO APPL
• MY RAV4 WAS PART OF THE RECALL. ONE, I BOUGHT MY CAR ON 1/18/10. I HEARD TOYOTA FILED THEIR CLAIM ON 1/21/10. THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED ON 1/26/10. I WAITED UNTIL BEGINNING OF MARCH FOR RECALL LETTER AS INSTRUCTED BY TOYOTA AND I NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL LETTER. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TO
• I WAS LEAVING MY HOME IN MY 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND IT INSTANTLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AT A VERY HIGH SPEED. I IMMEDIATELY PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD. HOWEVER NOTHING OCCURRED THE CAR CONTINUED TO REVERSE RAPIDLY. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL BUT IT WAS A SMALL SPAC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 13 crashes

“JUST ANOTHER UNSATISFIED, UNHAPPY, AND SCARED FOR MY LIFE TOYOTA OWNER! THE REPAIR FOR THE RECALL FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT TAKES TOO MUCH EFFORT TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THE ACCELERATOR STICKS SOMETIMES. BRAKING IS BECOMING A MAJOR ISSUE FOR ME-I'VE NEVER HAD TO APPL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 498 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH HE HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE HUB AND BEARING ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED AT AN EXPENSE OF $432.41. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48985. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49000.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: TL* WHILE TEST DRIVING A 2010 TOYOTA RAV 4, IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE BEGAN REVVING AT A RAPID PACE. HE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE TO RESUME NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, IN WHICH HE NOTIFIED THE SALES MANAGER OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I HAVE A VIBRATION WHEN GOING BETWEEN 62-70MPH. HAVE NO IDEA FROM WHAT HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER, THEY BALANCED THE TIRES, WE HAD A PRIVATE TIRE DEALER CHECK THE BALANCE, STILL THERE. THE OWNER OF OUR DEALERSHIP CALLED AND SAID SHE TEST DROVE TWO OTHER ONES, SAME MODEL AS OURS AND THEY DO IT TO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: 2010 RAV4 LIMITED DELIVERED 10/26/09. CONSTANT TRANSMISSION WHINE AT SPEEDS FROM 10 MPH TO 45MPH. THIS WHINE APPEARED IMMEDIATELY AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER WHO SAID THIS HAPPENS IN ALL RAV4'S. WROTE LETTER TO PRESIDENT OF TOYOTA USA ON 12/17/09 AND HAVE RECEIVED N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)